Similar species:

Adult Red-billed Tropicbird is larger with a slower wingbeat and lacks black patches on upperwing. Immature Red-billed has less distinct barring on the back. Adult Red-tailed Tropicbird also lacks the black patches on the upperwing.

The White-tailed Tropicbird disperses widely across the oceans when not breeding. It feeds on fish and squid, caught by surface plunging, however, this species is a poor swimmer.

I realized that If I had to choose, I would rather have birds than airplanes.